This biography of the famous Hollywood movie star begins in John Wayne's childhood years, where he got the nickname "Duke." The story goes on to tell how Duke became a hard-worker in childhood, an all-American high school athlete and won a football scholarship to USC. Starting as a laborer, prop boy and extra in the film industry, he got his first big break in "The Big Trail," a box-office flop, where movie executives changed his name from Marion Morrison to John Wayne. Ten years later, his friend and director John Ford gave him another chance at stardom when he cast Duke as the male-star in "Stagecoach." Over his entire film career, Duke made 250 films, won an Oscar and was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. On the big screen he tamed the American West, won World War II and took on the Viet Cong. He even fought communism in Hollywood and cancer in his own body. It could be said that Duke is the personification of the "can do" American Spirit.
Written for students and young adult readers, this biography also includes an extensive vocabulary builder and ten thought-provoking review questions. Great for book reports and homeschoolers.
